VANCOUVER — It will be the Sully and Gully show for the next six games for the Vancouver Canucks.

With head coach John Tortorella receiving a 15-day, six-game suspension Monday for storming the Calgary Flames’ dressing room after the first period of Saturday night’s game at Rogers Arena, Mike Sullivan will call the shots with the help of fellow assistant Glen Gulutzan.

“Listen, we have (both) had head-coaching experience so we have been there and done that,” Sullivan said after the Canucks’ practice Monday at Rogers Arena. “I don’t think it’s something that is a major issue other than the fact that Torts’ presence is important to our team. I think everybody takes their cues off of him, his coaching staff as well. His passion, his energy, I think, is what has allowed him to have the success he has had in this league.”

Sullivan made the comments several hours before Tortorella was handed his suspension.

Colin Campbell, the NHL’s senior executive vice-president of hockey operations, said in a statement that Tortorella’s actions “were both dangerous and an embarrassment to the league.

“Coaches in the NHL bear the responsibility of providing leadership, even when emotions run high, and Mr. Tortorella failed in his responsibility to the game.”

In a short news release, Canucks general manager Mike Gillis said the team respected the league’s decision.

“We would also like to acknowledge our organization’s full support for John and we look forward to having him back behind the bench soon.”

Tortorella’s suspension began Sunday. He will be eligible to return to work on Feb. 2 and will be back behind the bench on Feb. 3, when the Canucks are in Detroit to meet the Red Wings.

Tortorella, who will not be paid during his suspension, is not permitted to have any interaction with the team prior to, during or after games.

That means Sullivan will be truly be in charge the next two weeks.

“Our staff, we do a lot of things together,” Sullivan said. “I really like our staff. He (Tortorella) is obviously our leader. Whatever the league decides we will be respectful of it and we’ll make our adjustments accordingly.”

The players think the transition to Sullivan calling the shots will be a seamless one.

“They are all on the same page, they all know what they are doing,” said defenceman Kevin Bieksa. “Sully has been a head coach in the league before and he knows what it’s like to be the big cheese behind the bench. He’ll probably wear a little bit nicer suit to the game, one that fits, and a nicer tie. And maybe Gully will comb his hair different. They know what they are doing.”

Sullivan and Tortorella have a history that dates back to 2007-08, when he joined Tortorella’s staff in Tampa Bay as an assistant. He has worked under Tortorella since then.

Sullivan also spent two seasons as head coach of the Boston Bruins from 2003-04 to 2005-06, and compiled a record of 70-56-15-23.

Both he and Tortorella are Massachusetts natives who some have said are cut from the same cloth. They are both passionate about their job and demanding of players.

But Canucks winger Daniel Sedin said Monday there are differences.

“They are similar,” Sedin said. “I think he (Sullivan) is pretty intense, too. But I would say he is calmer than Torts. Torts comes in and screams and will do all that and then Sully talks to the players afterwards. But he is an intense guy, too.”

““He is a great coach,” winger Zack Kassian said of Sullivan. “He and Gully, they are a great fit for each other, a great fit for our team. Sully is very vocal, he has been around the game for a long time, knows the game and he has played so he can relate to the players and what they are going through.”

“They see the game the same way,” winger Alex Burrows said of Sullivan and Tortorella. “I think Sully is a little bit more rational, more laid back a little bit than Torts. But I think he has got some fire in him, too, and if he needs to get the boys going that’s what he’ll do.”

Sullivan, 45, played 709 NHL games for four different teams before retiring as a player after the 2001-02 season.

Sullivan was in the tunnel outside the Calgary dressing room with Tortorella on Saturday night, but said Monday he had not heard from the NHL.

“I’d rather not comment on what went on in the hallway,” he said. “Torts can be the guy that can talk about what happened. From my standpoint it was more making sure that Torts was going to be okay.

“I was upset, as was Torts. We don’t like to see our players be put in harm’s way and the game is a violent game as it is. I don’t think as coaches we need to manufacture it.”

The trouble started at the opening faceoff when Calgary coach Bob Hartley sent out his fourth-line tough guys. Tortorella countered with his fourth line and a line brawl quickly ensued. Eight players were ejected, four aside.

Hartley received a $25,000 fine from the league on Monday.

Tortorella will miss Tuesday night’s game in Edmonton, home games against Nashville (Thursday), Phoenix (Jan. 26), Edmonton (Jan. 27) and Chicago (Jan. 29) and a road game Jan. 31 in Winnipeg.

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Canucks turn to Mike Sullivan as new bench boss after John Tortorella suspended (with video)

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